Andy Pycroft to write Pakistan's death sentence; ICC appoints IND vs PAK match referee for Super 4

Team India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will take on Salman Ali Agha’s Pakistan in the Super 4 match of the Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, September 21. ICC match referee Andy Pycroft will officiate the match, despite concerns from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The group stage of the Asia Cup 2025 concluded after the match between India and Oman, with India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh advancing to the Super 4 stage. The Asian Cricket Council will conduct the next round, where these teams will play each other once, and the top two will advance to the final.

Andy Pycroft Appointed as Match Referee for India-Pakistan Clash

Cricket reporter Kushan Sarkar shared that Andy Pycroft has been appointed as the match referee for the upcoming Super 4 clash between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025; however, official confirmation for the match between the archrivals is still pending.

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"Tomorrow's Match Referee for India vs Pakistan Super 4s game: ANDY PYCROFT," Sarkar wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Tomorrow's Match Referee for India vs Pakistan Super 4s game: ANDY PYCROFT#IndVPak #AsiaCup2025

— Kushan Sarkar (@kushansarkar) September 20, 2025

Suryakumar Yadav Sparks Controversy with No-Handshake Controversy in Group Match

The India-Pakistan group stage match in the Asia Cup 2025 sparked a major controversy when Suryakumar Yadav did not shake hands with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha before the game. Suryakumar and his teammates also did not shake hands with the Pakistan players after the match.

The Pakistan Cricket Board filed a formal complaint with the ICC, alleging that match referee Andy Pycroft had breached the spirit of the game. Notably, the PCB demanded his removal from the tournament and requested that he not officiate Pakistan’s future matches.

The ICC, however, dismissed the PCB’s claims, stating that Pycroft acted within the tournament’s guidelines. The referee had merely conveyed a message from the ACC venue manager, and no breach of protocol had occurred according to the cricketing body.

Pakistan also threatened to boycott the tournament. However, they decided to play against UAE in their final group stage match, arriving at the stadium an hour late due to a meeting between PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, Najam Sethi, and Ramiz Raja.

PCB Released Video of Andy Pycroft Meeting Team Officials Amid Handshake Controversy

On Wednesday, the Pakistan Cricket Board released a muted video showing Pycroft in discussion with captain Salman Ali Agha, coach Mike Hesson, and team manager Naved Akram Cheema.

The PCB stated that Pycroft apologized for the handshake incident; however, reports suggest he only clarified the situation rather than issued an actual apology.

Pycroft expressed regret over a miscommunication by the Asian Cricket Council’s venue manager. The PCB also noted that the ICC had agreed to investigate Pycroft for a potential code of conduct breach.

Notably, the ICC is reportedly considering disciplinary action against the PCB for misconduct and violating tournament regulations, especially for recording a restricted-area meeting with Pycroft. The no-handshake policy is expected to continue in the upcoming India-Pakistan match.

Also read: KL Rahul to join CSK!! Stephen Fleming leaves no stone unturned